Good morning everyone, my name is Mike and I am new to the forum. This is my first post and hope to post more as I am new to the train hobby by way of my dad's passing. I know very little about model railroading and the different types of trains and what makes them different. I am looking for assistance in clarifying what types of trains I actually have and learning a little bit about them. My dad had a massive collection as an avid collector most of his life and built a massive layout in his home in Northern NJ. What is left has been a little difficult to identify as they do not appear to be complete with original boxes or paperwork (that I know). In the little research I've done this ALCO brand appears to be made of brass but I cannot be certain (also unsure if they are all made brass). I have attached pics of items that came out of ALCO boxes but there is no way I can confirm if these are the original boxes to these trains. I am not soliciting these items in any way and it is not my intention to use this forum to do so. My first questions would be what types of trains are these are can I assume they are brass?
Thank you for looking at this post and I look forward to communicating with everyone.
Hi Mike,
Welcome to the Forums and to the hobby.
I'm not sure if you are aware, but the forums crashed on August 1st. That's why you haven't seen any responses. The Model Railroader web site has had numerous problems over the past year or so, but it is now under new ownership. The new owners specialize in reviving magazines that have are suffering financial or customer losses so there is hope that things will improve within the next few months.
I know almost nothing about brass engines so I will defer to others who know whereof they speak.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Mike, I am sorry for the loss of your Father.
Those two are nice looking engines. When I see days since the last post, I feel that the MR forum is down. I keep coming back, sooner or later it may start back up. I guess we are back up and running again, for a while.
I will watch to see what others say about your engines.
Be careful not to confuse Alco Models (which imported brass models made mostly by KMT in Japan, during the 1960s and 1970s) with the American Locomotive Company, later Alco Products, which (along with General Electric at that time) manufactured the RS1s and the RS/RSD2s and 3s.
I suspect you have Alco Models models of Alco RS2/3 locomotives. As an interesting technical point, the two models display an important change in the turbocharging arrangement for the 244-series diesel engine.
I grew up with those Erie-Lackawanna engines on the Northern Branch and Pascack Valley Line commuter trains, so I smile when I see one...
Hi Mike. Welcome to the Forum. A friendly bunch here.
I live in the U.K. and unfortunately I cannot help regarding your locomotives.
My granddaughter is the one for U.S.A. railroading. She has a 0 gauge garden layout.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought